Protecting Others if You Have the Common Cold

Catching common cold makes others vulnerable to catching the infection from you. You have the virus. Protecting others is your priority. Knowing how to do this will prevent other people from rushing to the local urgent care facility as well. If you want to know how to protect others during your common cold, here are the details.

Wearing face masks

The current pandemic proves how well mask-wearing works in isolating contagious illnesses. Practicing this whenever a common cold virus takes over is a healthy and considerate gesture. The pandemic has taught everyone about proper health protection. Wearing a mask prevents the infected person from releasing aerosols into the air. This protects the surrounding people from viral upper respiratory tract infections.

An infected individual does not need an N95 mask. A homemade bandana mask or surgical mask can provide enough protection. Masks with two layers can do the job. Doing this when other people are inside a closed space with the infected individual will protect other people enough. Encouraging young children with colds to wear masks at school can protect them and other people. Wearing a mask while seeking treatment from a local urgent care clinic will protect other patients and clinical staff from contracting the virus.

Refraining from coughing or sneezing into the air

Establishing the habit of covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue can prevent the common cold from spreading. The infected person can cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve of the shirt or the inner fold of the arm if there is no access to tissue. Younger kids can learn how to establish these habits while playing or during class. They may not have the time to get a tissue before sneezing or coughing.

Ventilating an enclosed space

Opening the windows, turning on the exhausts, and keeping the fans on can remove infective aerosols from inside the house or any enclosed space. Most of the common cold viruses stay in enclosed spaces and circulate. Good ventilation can prevent viruses from infecting people. Placing air purifiers with HEPA filters in enclosed spaces can also help remove infective aerosols.

Washing hands as often as possible

Forming the habit of washing hands with soap and clean water for 20 seconds is enough to ensure cleanliness. This will also ensure the removal of common cold viruses from the hands. Singing the Happy Birthday song two times can help provide this result. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can clean and sanitize the hands if there is no access to soap and water. Cleaning and sanitizing the hands after sneezing or coughing is a good practice as well.

Staying home until the common cold infection stops

A common cold can travel from one person to another. The infected person can protect others by staying at home until the infection ends. This will prevent the virus from finding another healthy host. Staying away from others for a while shows the concern the individual has for others.